14 May 1988: The first FA Cup final penalty save | Football | The Guardian 14 May 1988: The first FA Cup final penalty save Dave Beasant made history when he captained Wimbledon to FA Cup victory over Liverpool in 1988 Dave Beasant dives to his left to save a penalty from John Aldridge during the 1988 FA Cup final. Photograph: David Cannon/Allsport Dave Beasant Friday 14 May 2010 19.38 EDT First published on Friday 14 May 2010 19.38 EDT Share on Messenger Close It wasn't so easy for a goalkeeper to do his homework on the opposition's penalty-taker back then, but Liverpool were on TV more often than anybody else. I'd probably seen four or five of John Aldridge's penalties that season. He had this jinking run-up and if the keeper dived early he'd send it the other way, but if the keeper didn't move I'd noticed that he'd normally stick it to his left.

After training the day before the game we practised a few penalties, and I asked John Fashanu, who also liked to pass the ball that side, to take a few. Then it was back to the hotel. We had our evening meal and then we were sitting around, twiddling our fingers and getting bored. I think Alan Cork spoke to Bobby Gould to ask if we could go to the pub for a change of scenery, and probably for the first time in his life Bobby dug in his pockets and gave us some money. We went to a place called the Fox & Grapes on Wimbledon Common. It was full of Wimbledon fans. You should have seen their faces when the entire team walked in, the night before the FA Cup final. A lot has been made of the noise we made in the tunnel before kick-off. We came out and Liverpool were just standing about, waiting – they'd been there many times and were perhaps a bit more relaxed. We were always quite vocal in trying to get ourselves pumped up for games. People say we won it in the tunnel, but I don't think it was like that at all.

Don Howe, the assistant manager, came up with a plan to put two men on John Barnes, who was having the season of his life, and that worked pretty well. We scored towards the end of the first half and they were pretty quiet until they got the penalty on the hour-mark. Even at the time no one thought it was a good decision. The players were running around, devastated, and as captain I'm running around after them, trying to calm them down. It was boiling hot, and that was probably the most energetic thing I had to do all day. I remember standing on the goalline before the penalty, panting. Andy Thorn used to stand behind the penalty-taker saying "miss, miss, miss". I don't know if that helped. Aldridge did exactly as I'd expected, I flung myself to my left and pushed the ball away. That was the moment when I thought, they're not going to score today. And maybe that's when they thought they weren't going to win it as well. We collected the trophy, ran around the pitch, all the stuff we'd seen everyone else do on TV in previous years. We were living that dream.

But when we got into the dressing room, we were knackered. People always say: what a night you lads must have had. The truth is it was pretty quiet. The club had a party in a marquee on the Plough Lane pitch and all our families were there. I think by midnight most of us were back at the hotel, ready to get some sleep. Then what happened Wimbledon never won another major trophy. In 2004, they were moved to Milton Keynes and renamed the MK Dons. Beasant now coaches at the Glenn Hoddle academy in Spain.

Joe Cole insisted he has nothing to prove as he looked to use the FA Cup final to cement his place in the England squad Published: 15 May 2010 Chelsea are hopeful of luring Fernando Torres from Liverpool after making discreet inquiries, according to reports Published: 14 May 2010 The FA Cup final is the next step in the goalkeeper's quest to forget the past and look to the future, he tells Barney Ronay Published: 14 May 2010 Crazy Gang did not win 1988 FA Cup final through intimidation - that is a ridiculous myth - Telegraph Liverpool Crazy Gang did not win 1988 FA Cup final through intimidation - that is a ridiculous myth The idea that us Liverpool players were psyched out by Wimbledon as we lined up to enter the Wembley pitch is absurd Credit: Wimbledon won the FA Cup by being fit, well organised and very aggressive Photo: REX FEATURES By John Barnes 7:12PM GMT 03 Jan 2015 History is written by the winners.

And good luck to the members of the Crazy Gang who have dined out on the stories of their victory in the 1988 FA Cup final for more than 25 years. But – as Wimbledon and Liverpool prepare to face each other for only the second time in an FA Cup tie since then – let’s get this straight: the stories have been embellished to the point where they bear little relation to reality. I know, because I was there. The idea has built up over the years that, in the tunnel as we lined up to go out on to the Wembley pitch, they verbally psyched us Liverpool players out. That we were too scared to play. John Fashanu and Vinnie Jones were at it again in a recent television documentary. It is a ridiculous myth. That Liverpool side was vastly experienced, many had played in played in European finals, the idea that we would have been upset by a bit of verbals is absurd. Yes, Fash and Jones and a couple of others were noisy in the tunnel. They always were. But they were not the only team who were loud and aggressive in that era.

We knew they were like that, we had heard them in dressing room when we had played them previously, we were used to it. It did not intimidate us one iota. There was no way with the experience we had in that team we would have been scared. Actually, I remember smiling at them in the tunnel, thinking at the time it was water off a duck’s back. It is always a good story when you win. But that is not how they won the Cup. Actually it is to their detriment to suggest it was. Because the truth is, they won it out on the pitch. They won by being fit, well organised and very aggressive. You could be very aggressive in those days and they were. As the Premier League came into being and the laws changed, that was no longer an option. Nobody would last five minutes trying to play like that under the new rules. But we knew what to expect. There was no question of their tactics coming as a surprise to us. In fact, I’d been aware of the way they’d played for a long time. When I was at Watford, I remember them coming to watch us.

Dave Bassett, their then manager, used to bring them along to study how we played: the long ball, the positions of maximum opportunity, they tried to emulate that style. Related Articles Gerrard: I'd have won more if Rodgers was here earlier 03 Jan 2015 Nor were we complacent. We knew it would be close. We had played them twice that season, drawn 1-1 at their place and beaten them 2-1 at Anfield. They simply were not a side you beat five or six nil. Besides, with coaches like Ronnie Moran preparing us, there is no way we would have been allowed to be complacent. We were up for it. We were highly motivated because we were going for the double. That was what we did in those days. That season, we won the league and lost in the FA Cup final. The following year, the Hillsborough year, we lost the league on the last day of the season and won the Cup. The year after that, we won the league and lost in the Cup semi-final to Crystal Palace. So, at that time, there was this feeling around that we were in with a chance to win the double every year.

That we did not manage it, well that’s football. For me, though, the biggest myth about that Cup final is the way it has come to be seen as the greatest of all Wembley shocks. I think Wigan beating Manchester City two years ago was a far bigger shock. Wigan were relegated that year. When we lost to Wimbledon they were regular top-10 finishers in the first division. Of course, there was a huge difference in history and scale between the two clubs. But for Liverpool to lose to a side in the top 10 in the top division does not constitute a shock. That said, I believed we would win that day. Even when we went behind I thought we’d get back in it. When we got a penalty I was convinced. John Aldridge had scored a penalty in the semi against Forest and every time he put the ball on the spot in those days I fully expected him to score. But Dave Beasant made an excellent save. Even so, even after he missed I thought we’d go on and pull things round. I still had that feeling with five minutes to go and one nil down. Ultimately, the truth is we lost because we did not play well.

Plus there was a bit of bad luck: we had a perfectly good goal ruled out. It was a bad performance from us, one you would much rather had happened on a Tuesday evening in the league, not in the Cup final at Wembley. I know that does not make much of a story, but that’s the fact. To play badly in a Cup final is never a happy memory, but I’m not in the least embarrassed about it. I could easily look back at a rerun of the game now. Not that I would choose it as entertainment. As I recall it was not what you would call a classic. Ronnie Moran said to us immediately after the game, forget about it and come back next year. Which we did. That Liverpool team took defeat and victory in much the same way: we never dwelt on either. Since then, it has been quite a journey for Wimbledon. I am really supportive of the way the fans resurrected the club after the move to Milton Keynes. I am a football traditionalist and it was important for them to retain their identity, the club’s place in the community.

Unfortunately, though, I don’t think they will ever be able to emulate their predecessors from 1988 and gain promotion from the non-league to the top flight and win the Cup. That is no reflection of AFC’s quality or of the excellent way the club is run. It is just sign of times. Those days are over. Which I think is a shame. We try to tell our children that football is about hope, that if you have the right integrity, have the right attitude then you will be successful. The reality is, what matters these days is money. The only way they could do it is with a sugar daddy behind them. And they have said they do not want that. Which is why those stories about the old days remain so popular. Even when they are largely myth. John Barnes was speaking on behalf of Titanbet.co.uk Former England goalkeeper Dave Beasant signs for Stevenage Dave Beasant was this morning announced as one of two new additions to Stevenage’s backroom team for 2014/15.

The former England international goalkeeper will be best remembered for being part of Wimbledon’s “Crazy Gang”, making nearly 350 appearances for the club over a nine year spell during which they made their way up through the divisions and won the FA Cup. To welcome Dave to the club we’ve taken a quick look back at some of the key numbers from his impressive career... 12th January 1980 – Dave makes his Football League debut against Blackpool 340 – The number of games he played for Wimbledon between 1979 and 1988 1st – Dave became the first goalkeeper to ever save a penalty in an FA Cup Final, when he saved John Aldridge’s penalty in Wimbledon’s famous 1-0 win over Liverpool £750,000 – The transfer fee Newcastle United paid Wimbledon to sign Dave in 1988 – a national record at the time for a goalkeeper 15 – The number of clubs Dave played for in his career 2 – England caps he won against Italy and Yugoslavia in 1989.

He also picked up 7 England B caps 1990 – Dave was part of the England squad for the 1990 World Cup in Italy 2 – Months he missed in 1993-94 after severing the tendon to his big toe after dropping a bottle of salad cream on his foot! 3 – Promotions Dave won during his career 42 – Dave became Nottingham Forest’s oldest ever player at 42 775 – The number of appearances Dave made in his senior career Related Articles Save money by purchasing in advance for this Category A game...

5 hours 53 mins ago Wimbledon v Liverpool: How the Crazy Gang made FA Cup history - BBC Sport BBC Sport Wimbledon v Liverpool: How the Crazy Gang made FA Cup history By Luke Reddy Kenny Dalglish was the king, but Bobby Gould's Wimbledon were out to dethrone him FA Cup third round on the BBC: AFC Wimbledon v Liverpool Venue: Kingsmeadow Date: Monday, 5 January Kick-off: 19:55 GMT Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC website, mobiles, tablets and connected TVs, live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, text commentary on BBC website As Liverpool fans headed for a venue they dubbed 'Anfield South', a raw and unapologetically ambitious enemy waited to inflict a Wembley nightmare. Wimbledon - dubbed the 'Crazy Gang' because of their rugged style and infamous dressing-room antics - lay in wait for the champions of England, seeking a second double in three years as they entered the 1988 FA Cup final. The Reds had enjoyed a decade of domestic and European dominance. Wimbledon by contrast, had been playing non-league football just 11 years earlier.

Media playback is not supported on this device When the Crazy Gang won the FA Cup Tales of Wimbledon mischief often draw smiles, but also frustrate those closest to the club who refer to a "well-drilled" operation. Their story is synonymous with the FA Cup, but just how exactly did they undo Kenny Dalglish's side? As League Two's AFC Wimbledon and Liverpool prepare to face off in the competition on Monday, BBC Sport speaks to former Liverpool players Gary Gillespie and Ray Houghton, ex-Wimbledon players Vinnie Jones, Lawrie Sanchez and Dave Beasant, as well as Ivor Heller, the fan who would go on to co-found AFC Wimbledon 14 years later. FA Cup Rewind: 1988 FA Cup final - Liverpool v Wimbledon Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Monday, 5 January Kick-off: 15:00 GMT Coverage: At 15:00 GMT on Monday the BBC Sport website will give full live text treatment to the 1988 FA Cup final, reliving the match as live. We'll have build-up from 14:00 GMT, the match in full and post-match reaction.

You will also be able to watch the game online and via the Red Button. Silly walks, fitness tests and electric shocks How do you prepare for a meeting with a Liverpool side braced for their 21st Wembley appearance in 15 years? Wimbledon manager Bobby Gould sent his players to the pub on the eve of the final, but not everyone involved could stay so relaxed. Gary Gillespie: "We played the Tuesday night before the final against Luton and me and team-mate Nigel Spackman clashed heads and ended up spending the night in hospital. "We did our fitness test in a hotel corridor. Roy Evans and Ronnie Moran threw balls and we headed them as best we could. It hurt but we were so desperate to play." Ray Houghton: "I was more nervous than usual. The favourites tag was on my mind and I didn't sleep much. The papers were talking of a rout and that type of opinion seemed everywhere." Wimbledon striker John Fashanu had a fairly frank message for Liverpool in the official match programme Dave Beasant: "There was a mass self-belief in our side but we played Manchester United on the Monday night, went 1-0 up and suddenly tackles started flying in.

One or two of them were saying we shouldn't go into tackles if we wanted to play in the final. I'd say it was one of the first times we'd lost a physical battle. "The FA Cup was different then to now. It was the be-all and end-all. I can recall us doing a promo for the Clothes Show on TV. We'd all had our suits made and had to model them, each doing silly walks. I look back now and it's cringe-worthy." Ivor Heller: "The night before, we went to Plough Lane [Wimbledon's former ground] and there was a disco in the club bar and sitting on his own was the manager of the 1974-75 side Allen Batsford. He started Wimbledon's giant-killing mentality. Not only was I talking to someone I regarded as a legend, but it was like an electric shock through to my boots to hear him talk of just how big this occasion was." Win or you're going to the opera Former Wimbledon owner Sam Hammam claims to have written a clause into the contracts of the club's players which would force them to attend a night at the opera if they ever lost a game 4-0 or more.

He says the clause proved an apt deterrent for the likes of Vinnie Jones and centre-half Eric Young. 'The shout went up from Vinnie - Yidaho!' Gould set the clocks in the Wembley dressing room two minutes slow so his team kept the English champions waiting in the tunnel. When they emerged, Jones and John Fashanu bellowed "yidaho" in an attempt to wind up their cavalry of team-mates further. Lawrie Sanchez: "In the tunnel, you stood there for longer than normal in a final and there we were, four feet apart. The shout went up from Vinnie, he had this cry a cowboy would give. One or two joined in. I expected a response but Liverpool just kept their heads down. I'm not saying it was crucial, but from that moment, I think they knew we were not intimidated by them." Houghton: "Honestly, I remember nothing about it. It may be disrespectful to Liverpool players who had been in a European Cup final in Rome a few years before to say they were stood there intimidated. I just remember getting ready to go out to meet Princess Diana." Beasant: "A lot has been made of the tunnel.

We made them wait but they'd seen it all and done it before. We were vocal coming out and they just looked at us. People say we won the battle there but that is nonsense." In the match programme, journalist Albert Sewell wrote: "Wimbledon's energetic football has seen them described as 'football's up-and-under men' and the 'spit and sawdust team of the First Division.'" 'I decided I was going to nail him' Prior to kick-off Vinnie Jones was interviewed on the touchline and out of shot came John Fashanu's fist to glance the midfielder's jaw. "There'll be plenty of that", Jones told the camera. Inside ten minutes he cleaned out opposing midfielder Steve McMahon with a late and vicious tackle. Heller: "We never got the credit we deserved for that final. People remember the rugged Wimbledon which annoys but there was one barbaric act - the tackle from Vinnie Jones on Steve McMahon was savage." Vinnie Jones: "I'd watched Steve McMahon hundreds of times get the ball from the full-back, let it run across his body, turn out and play it, so I was going to nail him. I just remember seeing his legs way above his head.

He didn't know where he was. They were towelling him down." Beasant: "We always used to say win the first tackle or header and he did that day. From there we started chipping away." Houghton: "By the challenges of today it was a red card and I think there could have been about eight reds in what was a tough, physical game." Gillespie on facing John Fashanu "In the Charity Shield months later, young Alex Watson played alongside me and as he was inexperienced we told him to not wind Fashanu up, 'just do your business'. "Watson ended up saying something to him like 'I thought you were meant to be a hard man,' and then the next thing I looked over and there was Alex with blood rushing from his eye." 'I didn't want it to go 2-0.' A Dennis Wise in-swinger, a Sanchez glancing header and on 37 minutes, a shock was on the cards in the cup final. Wimbledon led Liverpool. Gillespie: "They had to work on free-kicks because they couldn't play.

That's a bit harsh actually but we didn't do much work on set-pieces and Sanchez just got across Gary Ablett. They were a dead-ball threat, of that there is no doubt." Sanchez: "Better players than me never played in a final, let alone score. I remember running straight over to Dennis and he jumped on me. Every photo has his back covering my face. We'd worked that free-kick a lot but I should have been around the back post if we'd done it properly. Lawrie Sanchez scores as a bandage-wearing Gary Gillespie (left) looks on, but the Wimbledon player was meant to attack the back post "I didn't want it to go 2-0.

Looking back now, what I will say is when you're there, in the eye of the storm, you just don't realise what this means to people and the impact it will have." Jones: "We looked around and thought 'hey, what's going on here?' Fashanu and Sanchez hated each other so Fash wasn't too happy about jumping all over Sanch." Houghton: "I've never watched it back but I spoke with Terry Gibson, who played for Wimbledon that day, and he said after the goal he did not receive a single pass from a team-mate. He just chased punted balls, they didn't have a kick." 'If he hadn't saved it I'd have killed him' With an hour on the clock Liverpool were given a lifeline as Clive Goodyear was adjudged to have fouled John Aldridge - penalty. It looked harsh, Liverpool didn't care, but a Wimbledon side often praised for rigour over intricacies, did their homework and Beasant saved. Beasant: "The day before I got John Fashanu to take one penalty for himself and then one like John Aldridge who would stutter in his run-up.

If the keeper stood still, he often went to the goalie's left. Back then you didn't have the widespread coverage of matches to be able to study a penalty taker so I had seen Aldridge take three or four." Jones: "We'd watched so many videos, if Dave Beasant hadn't have gone the right way I'd have killed him." Dave Beasant became the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in the FA Cup final and the first to lift the trophy Sanchez: "When Dave saved that penalty it was at that point everybody knew it was our day." Houghton: "You do get that feeling it won't be your day. I remember going to the European Championship with the Republic of Ireland weeks later and playing a game of golf with Aldo and you could still see then he was heartbroken. He's a local lad remember and he knew Liverpool were on for the double." Gillespie: "Aldo was down afterwards.

Alan Hansen more so because it was his testimonial the week after and I think the loss took about 5,000 off the gate, so he gives Aldo stick for that one." Match of the Day live from a tent John Motson famously uttered: "The Crazy Gang have beaten the culture club." Wimbledon owner Sam Hammam quickly told Gould all the players were up for sale in order to capitalise on their lofty status. But this wild bunch did not party to the extent you might expect. Beasant: "I lift the trophy, Wisey is next to me and swearing towards our fans. I'm thinking, Princess Anne is stood right behind you. The irony is we were known as a crazy team, up to all sorts, but we were offered two tickets each to celebrate at a top London hotel or 10 tickets each for a marquee - or as we called it a tent - on the pitch at Plough Lane. So all our families were there and it was a quiet night." Sanchez: "Match of the Day came live from the corner of the tent.

To be able to walk over and do it live was a dream come true." The 1988 FA Cup was the only major trophy Vinnie Jones won in a 15-year senior career Heller: "The Saturday night in Wimbledon was insane, absolutely insane. In the town centre, there was no beer left, they had to get emergency supplies in for the Sunday. The parade the next day was crazy. There was an outpouring like I've never experienced and probably never will again." Gillespie: "That second double was in our grasp and that is the biggest disappointment for me. The year later we won the cup and should have won the league. Three doubles would not have been unjust, that's how good that side was." Jones: "I got up on the Monday morning and it was all over. The biggest thing in your life, all over. Everything back to normal." Sanchez: "I remember Vinnie saying to me later that he always thought you win the FA Cup and become a millionaire overnight, but it just wasn't the case. But I always say to players that when you're old and grey, your grandkids won't want to look at your wage slips.

I've got an FA Cup winners' medal and for that I am very humbled." Share this page FA Cup hero Dave Beasant's son hoping to cause another shock against Bradford City - Mirror Online Sport FA Cup hero Dave Beasant's son hoping to cause another shock against Bradford City Nick Beasant helped Chesham dump out Bristol Rovers in the last round and the Generals travel to Valley Parade on Sunday with a place in Monday's draw up for grabs Share Giantkillers: Nick Besant and keeper Shane Gore celebrate against Bristol Rovers (Photo: Michael Steele) Share Get football updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email Crazy Gang ringmaster Dave Beasant 's penalty sprawl of fame in the FA Cup final 27 years ago wasn't his first great save at Wembley that day. Before kick-off, as Wimbledon's team coach pulled into the stadium, Beasant's young son Nick was perched on his uncle's shoulders as crowds gathered to greet the Dons.

When the players disembarked and fans surged forward in the excitement, Nick – then aged two-and-a-half – toppled from his elevated vantage point and, so the story goes, Beasant was perfectly positioned to catch him in the scrum. A couple of hours later, Beasant's full-length save to keep out John Aldridge's penalty became one of the Cup's iconic moments – and if Wimbledon's triumph was one of Wembley's biggest upsets, giantkilling runs in the family. In pictures - Dave Beasant and his son Nick: Nick, now a strapping 6ft 3in centre half, was heroic as Southern League minnows Chesham United pulled off the biggest upset of the FA Cup first round at Bristol Rovers last month. The Generals visit last season's giantkillers Bradford City – 104 places above them on English football's pyramid – on Sunday with another member of a famous dynasty hoping to write his own chapter in Cup legend. Personal trainer Nick, now 30, said: “I have vague memories of being in the tunnel at Wembley on the day my dad won the Cup with Wimbledon, and being on my uncle's shoulders when the coach pulled up.

Safe hands: Dave Beasant denies Liverpool's John Aldridge at Wembley in 1988 (Photo: Getty) “But he doesn't bore us every week about his penalty save. It's on TV every year when the Cup comes round. “My brother, Sam, is first-choice goalkeeper at Cambridge and my dad was torn whether to go and watch their Cup tie against Doncaster or follow Chesham up to Bradford. “We got the nod because it would be a huge upset if we made it to the third round – Chesham have only been there once in the club's history (in 1980), and we're not just going to Valley Parade to make up the numbers.” Up for the Cup: Beasant (left) and his Chesham team-mates will be hoping to cause another upset (Photo: Michael Steele) Chesham, in the Buckinghamshire commuter belt in the top left-hand corner of the London Underground map, missed out on an evening of pampering and spa treatment at Champneys resort in nearby Tring because they were taken to a replay by Frome in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night.

Beasant said: “All the boys were gutted about that – we're in the middle of an incredible run of 10 away games in 11 fixtures, and we were all looking forward to a sauna, hot tub and massage. “But there's a never-say-die attitude among this squad – for most of us, it's the biggest game of our lives, far too important to get up to any larks like the Crazy Gang in my dad's day.” poll loading AFC Wimbledon: Beasant's Peasants | FM Scout AFC Wimbledon: Beasant's Peasants 2909 posts 312 likes joined Mar 29, 2013 Beasant in talks with Wimbledon Former Chelsea goalkeeper Dave Beasant has admitted that he is in talks with another one of his former clubs for a managerial role. Beasant was signed by his hometown club Wimbledon in 1979, upon The Dons promotion to the Third Division (League One) from non-league side Edgware Town. He made his Football League debut on 12th January 1980 against Blackpool, and played one more time that season before Wimbledon were relegated.

He became a regular player the following campaign when they were promoted and stayed loyal to the club even when they were relegated again in 1982, being a key player in the side that won the Fourth Division title in 1983. He won promotion from the Third Division a year later, and completed a four-season rise to the First Division in 1986 when they gained promotion from the Second Division in only their ninth season as a Football League team. Beasant then became the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final when he blocked John Aldridge's spot-kick for Liverpool in 1988, and in doing so helped Wimbledon secure a famous 1–0 win. Beasant in his Newcastle United days. However that F.A. Cup Final was Beasant's last game for Wimbledon, as he completed a £750,000 move to Newcastle in 1988 - ending a nine year affiliation with The Dons.

27 years after that move to the Toon, Beasant became the oldest player registered for a Football League side after being named as a substitute for Stevenage's away clash against Carlisle aged 56 years old, despite making his last competitive game 14 years before for Brighton & Hove Albion. Since his time at Wimbledon last time, that club has since moved into Milton Keynes, and renamed Milton Keynes Dons in 2004. Fans of the former Wimbledon FC founded AFC Wimbledon in 2002, and in the time span of 13 years, the club have found their way back into the Football League and currently compete in League Two. Now chairman Erik Samuelson - head of the fans' committee has been reported to be offering Beasant the managerial role at Kingsmeadow, something all Wimbledon fans must agree on before finalising. └ This post was edited by Jack (2015-08-12 15:56, 1 years ago) 2909 posts 312 likes joined Mar 29, 2013 Wimbledon Name Beasant AFC Wimbledon have finally announced the arrival of Dave Beasant as The Dons' new head coach.

In a press conference earlier with elected chairman Erik Samuelson, he confirmed the arrival of the 55-year-old on a one-year deal at Kingsmeadow. Beasant later made an appearance at the club's training ground, Moatside, where he answered questions about his new role at his old club of whom he made 340 appearances for between 1979 and 1988. The former Chelsea and Newcastle keeper said this: "I'm absolutely delighted that Erik offered me the job here and there was no way I was saying no to this opportunity." When asked about recruitment the new manager spoke confidently of his options in the transfer market. "Erik has said he is offering me full backing in this transfer window, we both know that Wimbledon doesn't belong in this league and we're going to do our best to put that right." Adebayo Akinfenwa's future at Wimbledon is in doubt under Dave Beasant. Rumours have risen about Adebayo Akinfenwa's future at Kingsmeadow, which Beasant refused to comment on at Moatside. The Nigerian is the highest paid player and Wimbledon won't be disappointed to see the strong forward leave the club.

2909 posts 312 likes joined Mar 29, 2013 Beasant: Akinfenwa on his way out New AFC Wimbledon manager Dave Beasant has today confirmed striker Adebayo Akinfenwa will be leaving Kingsmeadow this summer. The 55-year-old spoke in a press conference today about preseason when the question of his Nigerian strikers future rose from the sea of journalists. "Adebayo is a talented player, no doubt about it." The 2-time England international said. "He's proven what he's capable of at this level and beyond with many different teams. "He's a strong lad, as everyone can see. He is a great attacking threat to have in your team, but I feel that there are better options out there at the moment. "So yes, I'm pretty sure Akinfenwa will be leaving the club this summer." The bulky target man scored 13 goals last season in League Two for The Dons in 45 appearances in his debut season at Kingsmeadow since arriving on a free transfer following his release from League One outfit Gillingham.

The 16-stone forward has been globally nicknamed 'The Beast' for his physical strength and heavy build, with the nickname introduced into popular culture by world-famous YouTuber KSIOlajideBT. 2909 posts 312 likes joined Mar 29, 2013 Wimbledon Sign Reeves Adebayo Akinfenwa has now put one foot out of the Kingsmeadow door as Altrincham finisher Damian Reeves joins The Dons. The 28-year-old is a surprise signing for Wimbledon having not played in the Football League ever before until the age of 28. Reeves was given his first professional contract at Leeds United in their Premier League days of 2002/03 season. He failed to make any first team appearance at The Whites, despite manager David O'Leary favouring youth in his Leeds side at the time. The clinical finisher has spent most of his time up north, with spells at Farsley Celtic, Alfreton, Telford and Bradford Park Avenue on the strikers CV.

The time Reeves spent at Altrincham was no doubt the best spell of his career, scoring 96 goals in 169 appearances for The Robins - including a season where he outscored his appearances! The arrival of Reeves for £25,000 has already signalled that current striker Adebayo Akinfenwa is nearing a departure from Kingsmeadow. But Reeves seems to be one of many new faces appearing at Kingsmeadow, with The Dons reportedly in for ex-Newcastle keeper Jak Alnwick as well as former Southampton winger Jake Sinclair on free transfers. Welshy 2015-07-29 01:42 211 posts 21 likes joined Jul 09, 2015 Great signing there, Reeves was decent against us (Wrexham last year,) Sinclair and Alnwick would be great signings too! 2909 posts 312 likes joined Mar 29, 2013 Premier League Dropouts Sign With Wimbledon Dave Beasant has today signed his second and third Wimbledon signings following the arrival of Altrincham's Damian Reeves earlier in the week.

Altrincham striker Damian Reeves initiated Wimbledon's entrance into the transfer window, signing the striker for a fee of £25,000, with The Dons expecting Adebayo Akinfenwa to leave in the coming days. The new signings at Kingsmeadow are former Newcastle goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, on a 2-year deal, and Southampton youth graduate Jake Sinclair, who is also the younger brother of Premier League winger Scott Sinclair. Sinclair joined the Southampton academy at the age of eight. Jake Sinclair (middle) in action for Southampton's development team. He made his professional debut for Southampton's first-team on 27 August 2013 against Barnsley at Oakwell Stadium in the Football League Cup in which he came on in the 90th minute for Emmanuel Mayuka as Southampton won the match 5–1. He signed on loan for Hibernian last season, making three appearances in the Scottish Championship. Alnwick however has been more involved in first-team affairs at St. James' Park than Sinclair was at St. Mary's. Jak Alnwick made eight appearances for Newcastle last season.

The former England Under-18 goalkeeper played eight times last season for The Magpies, while enduring a loan at Bradford City the same season. Alnwick had a trial at Leeds United prior to his release from Newcastle, but the Championship outfit opted for Barnsley keeper Ross Turnbull instead. The 22-year-old has signed a 2-year deal at Wimbledon. Learn and talk about Dave Beasant, 1990 FIFA World Cup players, Association football goalkeepers, Bradford City A.F.C. players, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. David John "Dave" Beasant, (born 20 March 1959) is an English former football goalkeeper , who is goalkeeping coach for Reading . He began his career in the late 1970s. A well-travelled player, Beasant's former clubs include Wimbledon , Newcastle United , Chelsea , Southampton , Nottingham Forest , Portsmouth , Tottenham Hotspur , Brighton & Hove Albion and Wigan Athletic .

He is best remembered for his part in Wimbledon's 1988 shock FA Cup victory, during which he was the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final. He made two appearances for the England national football team . On 10 May 2015, Beasant became the oldest individual to be selected in the squad for a match in Football League history while representing Stevenage against Southend in the League Two Play-Off semi-final second leg, at the age of 56. Contents Wimbledon[ edit ] He entered the Football League in 1979 at the age of 20 when his home-town club, Wimbledon , newly promoted to the Third Division , signed him from non-league Edgware Town . He made his debut for them against Blackpool on 12 January 1980 and played once again that season, in which Wimbledon were relegated.

He became a regular player the following campaign when they were promoted and stayed loyal to the club even when they were relegated again in 1982, being a key player in the side that won the Fourth Division title in 1983, won promotion from the Third Division a year later, and completed a four-season rise to the First Division in 1986 when they gained promotion from the Second Division in only their ninth season as a Football League team. [1] He became the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final when he blocked John Aldridge 's spot-kick for Liverpool in 1988 , and in doing so helped Wimbledon secure a famous 1–0 win. "...and he saved it - and made history - the first time ever when a penalty kick is not been converted in the FA Cup Final here", yelled BBC's John Motson into the microphone. He was also the first goalkeeper to captain his team in an FA Cup final.

[2] His ability to kick the ball some considerable distance fitted in well with the style of play Wimbledon were known for in the 1980s, nor was he afraid to move out of the area and upfield before kicking the ball, or to take free kicks. As a result, opposing defences could never relax when he had the ball. Beasant won two caps for England , and went to the 1990 World Cup as a late replacement when third-choice keeper David Seaman suffered a hand injury. Wimbledon also did well in the league after their promotion in 1986, going top of the First Division in early September before finishing sixth at the end of the 1986–87 season . They finished seventh in the cup winning campaign a year later. Newcastle United[ edit ] However, the 1988 FA Cup final was the last game that Beasant played for Wimbledon.

A month later he was sold to Newcastle United for £750,000 – a national record for a goalkeeper at the time.[ citation needed ] Chelsea[ edit ] Beasant's spell on Tyneside was short and ill fated as the Magpies struggled and were finally relegated from the First Division in bottom place, but Beasant had left in January 1989 to join Chelsea . [3] In September 1992, two mistakes in a match against Norwich City led to Chelsea manager Ian Porterfield telling the media Beasant would never play for the club again, although he returned to the side when Porterfield left later that season. [4] During the 1993–94 season, Beasant sustained an injury when he dropped a 2 kg bottle of salad cream (also reported as mayonnaise) on his foot, [5] [6] severing the tendon to his big toe. [7] Due to his indisposition, he missed eight weeks of the season.

[8] Following the arrival of new manager, Glenn Hoddle , who opted for Dmitri Kharine as his first choice keeper with Kevin Hitchcock in reserve, Beasant was unable to get back into the Chelsea squad and looked for a new club. [4] Southampton[ edit ] Beasant signed for Southampton in November 1993 for a fee of £300,000 [4] to replace the recently departed Tim Flowers . [9] Beasant made his debut in a 1–0 defeat at Everton on 4 December; despite a run of four defeats, [10] his confidence gradually returned and he soon became a favourite with The Dell crowd. With the departure of Ian Branfoot and his replacement as manager by Alan Ball , the "Saints" eventually climbed out of the relegation zone, finishing the 1993–94 season one point above relegated Sheffield United . [10] At the start of the 1994–95 season , he was replaced by Bruce Grobbelaar but was restored as first-choice keeper for the last month of the season.

[11] Following Alan Ball's move to Manchester City in the summer of 1995, new manager Dave Merrington preferred Beasant in goal. The team struggled throughout the season , and were never far from the relegation zone, but finished level on points but with a better goal difference than Ball's Manchester City who were relegated. [12] Beasant himself finished the season by being voted the club's Player of the Season. [9] For the 1996–97 season , Graeme Souness was appointed manager; initially, Souness kept faith with Beasant but after a series of injuries (during which Saints took Chris Woods on loan), [13] Souness signed Maik Taylor from Barnet in January. [9] Beasant's final first-team game for Southampton was a 1–0 defeat against Liverpool on 29 December 1996. Following the arrival of Paul Jones in the summer of 1997, Beasant was now only third-choice 'keeper, and after a loan move to Nottingham Forest in August 1997, the transfer was made permanent in November.

[9] In his four years at The Dell, he made a total of 105 appearances in all competitions. Later career[ edit ] In November 1997, he signed for Nottingham Forest at 38 years old, after a short period on loan. He spent four years at the City Ground , during which time they were relegated from the Premier League one season after promotion. He went on to become Forest's oldest ever player at 42. He produced arguably much of his best form during his time at the City Ground . He was solid and reliable, and consistently produced good saves each season. He then signed for Portsmouth in August 2001 after their regular goalkeeper Aaron Flahavan was killed in a car crash. He played his last competitive game in the 2002–03 season for Brighton & Hove Albion in Division One at the age of 43, although he did spend the 2003–04 season registered as a player with Fulham in the FA Premier League .

By then he was the oldest player registered with any professional club and the last in England with a 1950s birthdate.[ citation needed ] He came out of retirement on 17 August 2013 to play for Southern League Division One Central club North Greenford United in a 2-0 defeat against Chalfont St Peter . [14] Having joined Stevenage as the club's goalkeeping coach in the middle of 2014, Beasant was named as a substitute for an away match at Carlisle United on 11 October 2014, aged 55. [15] International career[ edit ] The first of Beasant's two England caps came on 15 November 1989 against Italy . The following month, on 13 December, he made his second and final England appearance against Yugoslavia . [16] He was a member of England's 1990 FIFA World Cup squad, called up after David Seaman had to withdraw through injury.

Coaching career[ edit ] By the time of his retirement, Beasant had been appointed as a goalkeeping coach at Fulham in addition to serving as goalkeeping coach for Northern Ireland under former Wimbledon teammate Lawrie Sanchez . Beasant resigned from the Northern Ireland post in 2007 after Sanchez was appointed Fulham manager only for the pair to both be sacked by the club in December 2007. [17] Beasant was a senior coach at the Glenn Hoddle Academy . He joined in 2008 and worked not only with the Academy's goalkeepers, but also outfield players, especially defenders. [18] In August 2012, Beasant was appointed part-time goalkeeper coach at Bristol Rovers . [19] In July 2014, he became goalkeeping coach at Stevenage where he joined his son Sam Beasant . [20] On 25 June 2015, he was appointed as goalkeeping coach at Reading . [21] Honours[ edit ] This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources . Please help by adding reliable sources .

Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately. Dave Beasant biography, Coaching career, Football career, Wimbledon Dave Beasant : biography 20 March 1959 - David John "Dave" Beasant, (born 20 March 1959 in Willesden, London) is a retired English football goalkeeper who began his career in the late 1970s. A well-travelled player, Beasant's former clubs include Wimbledon, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wigan Athletic. He is best remembered for his part in Wimbledon's 1988 shock FA Cup victory, during which he was the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final. His nickname was 'Lurch' due to his resemblance to the butler in the TV show The Addams Family. He made two appearances for the England national football team. Coaching career By the time of his retirement, Beasant had been appointed as a goalkeeping coach at Fulham in addition to serving as goalkeeping coach for Northern Ireland under former Wimbledon teammate Lawrie Sanchez.

Beasant resigned from the Northern Ireland post in 2007 after Sanchez was appointed Fulham manager only for the pair to both be sacked by the club in December 2007. Beasant was a senior coach at the Glenn Hoddle Academy. He joined in 2008 and worked not only with the Academy’s goalkeepers, but also outfield players, especially defenders. In August 2012, Beasant was appointed part-time goalkeeper coach at Bristol Rovers. Football career Wimbledon He entered the Football League in 1979 at the age of 20 when Wimbledon, newly promoted to the Third Division, signed him from non league Edgware Town. He made his debut for them against Blackpool on 12 January 1980 and played once again that season, in which Wimbledon were relegated.

He became a regular player the following campaign when they were promoted and stayed loyal to the club even when they were relegated again in 1982, being a key player in the side that won the Fourth Division title in 1983, won promotion from the Third Division a year later, and completed a four-season rise to the First Division in 1986 when they gained promotion from the Second Division in only their ninth season as a Football League team. He became the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final when he blocked John Aldridge's spot-kick for Liverpool in 1988, and in doing so helped Wimbledon secure a famous 1–0 win. He was also the first goalkeeper to captain his team in an FA Cup final. His ability to kick the ball some considerable distance fitted in well with the style of play Wimbledon were known for in the 1980s, nor was he afraid to move out of the area and upfield before kicking the ball, or in order to take free kicks. As a result, opposing defences could never relax when he had the ball.

Beasant won two caps for England, and went to the 1990 World Cup as a late replacement when third-choice keeper David Seaman suffered a hand injury. Wimbledon also did well in the league after their promotion in 1986, going top of the First Division in early September before finishing sixth at the end of the 1986-87 season. They finished seventh in the cup winning campaign a year later. Newcastle United However, the 1988 FA Cup final was the last game that Beasant played for Wimbledon. A month later he was sold to Newcastle United for £750,000 - a national record for a goalkeeper at the time. Chelsea However, Beasant's spell on Tyneside was short and ill fated as the Magpies struggled and were finally relegated from the First Division in bottom place, but Beasant had left in January 1989 to join Chelsea. In September 1992, two mistakes in a match against Norwich City led to Chelsea manager Ian Porterfield telling the media Beasant would never play for the club again, although he returned to the side when Porterfield left later that season.

He missed the first two months of the 1993–94 season with an injury sustained after an accident when he dropped a bottle of salad cream on his foot, severing the tendon to his big toe. Following the arrival of new manager, Glenn Hoddle, who opted for Dmitri Kharine as his first choice keeper with Kevin Hitchcock in reserve, Beasant was unable to get back into the Chelsea squad and looked for a new club. About: Dave Beasant About: Dave Beasant An Entity of Type : athlete , from Named Graph : , within Data Space : dbpedia.org David John "Dave" Beasant, (born 20 March 1959) is a former English football goalkeeper, who is goalkeeping coach for Reading.He began his career in the late 1970s. A well-travelled player, Beasant's former clubs include Wimbledon, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wigan Athletic. He is best remembered for his part in Wimbledon's 1988 shock FA Cup victory, during which he was the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final.

He made two appearances for the England national football team. Property abstract Dave Beasant, né le à Willesden en Londres (Angleterre), est un footballeur anglais, qui évoluait au poste de gardien de but au Wimbledon FC et en équipe d'Angleterre. Beasant n'encaisse aucun but lors de ses deux sélections avec l'équipe d'Angleterre en 1989 et 1994. Il participe à la Coupe du monde 1990, sans toutefois entrer en jeu. Il est le deuxième joueur avec la plus longue série de matches consécutifs en Football League, avec 394 matchs d'affilée, derrière Harold Bell avec 401 matches.

(fr) David John Beasant, mejor conocido como Dave Beasant (Londres, Inglaterra, 20 de marzo de 1959), es un futbolista inglés que se desempeñó como guardameta en clubes como el Wimbledon FC y el Chelsea FC.Su equipo actual es el Stevenage FC de Inglaterra con el que volverá a ponerse en actividad a sus 55 años y se convertirá en el jugador mas longevo en jugar en el fútbol inglés. (es) David John „Dave“ Beasant (* 20. März 1959 in London, England) ist ein ehemaliger englischer Fußballspieler, der unter anderem beim FC Wimbledon, FC Chelsea, FC Southampton und Nottingham Forest tätig war. Für die englische Fußballnationalmannschaft bestritt er zwei Länderspiele. (de) Era soprannominato Lurch per la sua somiglianza con il maggiordomo della Famiglia Addams.

(it) David John "Dave" Beasant, (born 20 March 1959) is a former English football goalkeeper, who is goalkeeping coach for Reading. He began his career in the late 1970s. A well-travelled player, Beasant's former clubs include Wimbledon, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wigan Athletic. He is best remembered for his part in Wimbledon's 1988 shock FA Cup victory, during which he was the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final. He made two appearances for the England national football team. On 10 May 2015, Beasant became the oldest individual to be selected in the squad for a match in Football League history while representing Stevenage against Southend in the League Two Play-Off semi-final second leg, at the age of 56. (en) David John "Dave" Beasant (ur. 20 marca 1959 w Londynie) – były piłkarz angielski występujący na pozycji bramkarza.

Rozpoczął karierę w latach siedemdziesiątych XX wieku. Były gracz m.in. Wimbledon F.C. i Chelsea F.C.. Rozegrał 2 mecze w pierwszej reprezentacji Anglii w piłce nożnej. Grał w piłkę nożną do 44 roku życia. Później został trenerem bramkarzy w reprezentacji Irlandii Północnej. Zrezygnował z funkcji trenera w 2007. (pl) David John "Dave" Beasant (Willesden, perto de Londres, 20 de março de 1959) é um ex-futebolista inglês que atuava como goleiro. Exerce atualmente a função de treinador de goleiros no Reading. Seu apelido é "Lurch", por conta de sua semelhança com o personagem homônimo da série The Addams Family. (pt) Дэвид Джон «Дэйв» Бизэнт (англ.

David John "Dave" Beasant; родился 20 марта 1959 года в Лондоне, Англия) — английский футболист. Выступал на позиции вратаря за английские клубы «Уимблдон», «Ноттингем Форест», «Челси», «Ньюкасл Юнайтед», «Саутгемптон». Также провёл два матча, защищая ворота национальной сборной Англии. (ru) comment David John Beasant, mejor conocido como Dave Beasant (Londres, Inglaterra, 20 de marzo de 1959), es un futbolista inglés que se desempeñó como guardameta en clubes como el Wimbledon FC y el Chelsea FC.Su equipo actual es el Stevenage FC de Inglaterra con el que volverá a ponerse en actividad a sus 55 años y se convertirá en el jugador mas longevo en jugar en el fútbol inglés. (es) David John „Dave“ Beasant (* 20.

März 1959 in London, England) ist ein ehemaliger englischer Fußballspieler, der unter anderem beim FC Wimbledon, FC Chelsea, FC Southampton und Nottingham Forest tätig war. Für die englische Fußballnationalmannschaft bestritt er zwei Länderspiele. (de) Era soprannominato Lurch per la sua somiglianza con il maggiordomo della Famiglia Addams. (it) Дэвид Джон «Дэйв» Бизэнт (англ. David John "Dave" Beasant; родился 20 марта 1959 года в Лондоне, Англия) — английский футболист. Выступал на позиции вратаря за английские клубы «Уимблдон», «Ноттингем Форест», «Челси», «Ньюкасл Юнайтед», «Саутгемптон». Также провёл два матча, защищая ворота национальной сборной Англии.

(ru) David John "Dave" Beasant, (born 20 March 1959) is a former English football goalkeeper, who is goalkeeping coach for Reading.He began his career in the late 1970s. A well-travelled player, Beasant's former clubs include Wimbledon, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wigan Athletic. He is best remembered for his part in Wimbledon's 1988 shock FA Cup victory, during which he was the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final. He made two appearances for the England national football team. (en) Dave Beasant, né le à Willesden en Londres (Angleterre), est un footballeur anglais, qui évoluait au poste de gardien de but au Wimbledon FC et en équipe d'Angleterre.Beasant n'encaisse aucun but lors de ses deux sélections avec l'équipe d'Angleterre en 1989 et 1994.

Il participe à la Coupe du monde 1990, sans toutefois entrer en jeu.Il est le deuxième joueur avec la plus longue série de matches consécutifs en Football League, avec 394 matchs d'affilée, derrière Harold Bell avec 401 matches. (fr) David John "Dave" Beasant (ur. 20 marca 1959 w Londynie) – były piłkarz angielski występujący na pozycji bramkarza.Rozpoczął karierę w latach siedemdziesiątych XX wieku. Były gracz m.in. Wimbledon F.C. i Chelsea F.C.. Rozegrał 2 mecze w pierwszej reprezentacji Anglii w piłce nożnej. Grał w piłkę nożną do 44 roku życia. Później został trenerem bramkarzy w reprezentacji Irlandii Północnej. Zrezygnował z funkcji trenera w 2007.

(pl) David John "Dave" Beasant (Willesden, perto de Londres, 20 de março de 1959) é um ex-futebolista inglês que atuava como goleiro. Exerce atualmente a função de treinador de goleiros no Reading.Seu apelido é "Lurch", por conta de sua semelhança com o personagem homônimo da série The Addams Family. (pt) Dave Beasant named on Stevenage bench at the age of 56 in League Two play-off! Former England keeper could become oldest English professional | Daily Mail Online Dave Beasant named on Stevenage bench at the age of 56 in League Two play-off! Former England keeper could become oldest English professional Dave Beasant is best remembered for his heroics in 1988 FA Cup final The 56-year-old goalkeeper named on Stevenage's bench on Sunday If he had comes on against Southend United he will become oldest English Football League professional in history Beasant last played a Football League match for Brighton in 2003 He made 773 league appearances, starting his career at Wimbledon in 1979

Question: Which football team won the F. A. Cup in 1988 as Dave Beasant became the first goalkeeper to save an F. A. Cup final penalty?
Answer: Wimbledon